Well it seems taxpayers may be a little closer to knowing the details of the largest single corporate welfare payment in Nova Scotia’s history.

The Nova Scotia government and Irving Shipbuilding have been blocking attempts by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) to get the details of their backroom deal that will see the province’s taxpayers shell out a little over $300 million.

While the CTF’s original request for documents pertaining to the secret deal was denied, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, has now officially re-opened its Freedom of Information (FOIPOP) request that asks the government to produce details of the deal the government cut with Irving Shipbuilding. 

Questions remain about what is in this deal that both Irving Shipbuilding and Nova Scotia government is so reluctant to reveal.

The Nova Scotia government will hand over $300 million of hard working taxpayers’ money to a company operated by one of the regions wealthiest families. According to Forbes Magazine list of billionaires James & Arthur Irving are the 3^rd wealthiest in all of Canada and 205^th  richest in the entire world. The magazine lists James and Arthur Irving’s total net worth as $5 billion. In contrast, the average Nova Scotia taxpayer who pays the highest taxes in Canada and is subsidizing this Irving deal  according to Statistics Canada earns little over $44,000 a year if they work a 40hr week.  

The recent letter from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism states it is re-opening the file. It also says that according to the rules it must give the third party (Irving Shipbuilding) 14 days to decide if it wants to object to the release of the documents.

Despite the generous contribution of taxpayers, Irving objected to taxpayers knowing aspects of the deal when the request was first made last month.

An explanation at the time for Irving Shipbuilding’s position came from Executive Mary Keith: “As part of the FOIPOP process, Irving Shipbuilding did go on record expressing concern regarding the release of business confidential information.”

This issue raises a fundamental concern about accountability.  By allowing the Irvings to control the dissemination of information, the objective of the FOIPOP legislations is easily thwarted. The privacy interests of Irving are treated as paramount to the transparency owed to taxpayers.

The CTF is very pleased the Minister has made good on his commitment to examine its request and now has formally re-opened the request for information.

Now it’s time for the government to take the next step and disclose the terms and conditions of their secret deal with Irving billionaires.

A copy of the letter to the CTF, from the Department of Economic:

4 June 2012

Kevin Lacey

By Email to: [email protected]

Dear Mr Lacey,

Re:  Reference ECD -12 -24

The Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism has reopened our Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act file ECD-12-24, which resulted in a decision letter to you dated May 15 2012.

As you are aware, the records you have requested contain information relating to third parties. As provided under Section 22 of the FOIPOP Act, we have written to the third parties by letter dated June 4 2012, advising of this reopening of ERD-12-24 and requesting their views on the records. As required under the FOIPOP Act we have asked whether or not they consent to the release of the information as provided to them.

We did not identify you as the applicant.

Third parties have 14 days in which to reply to our request. We then make our decision regarding the release of the information.  If the third party objects to that decision they then have 20 days to request a review of our decision with the FOIPOP Review Office.

Thank you for your continued patience during this period.   If you have any questions about this notification, please contact me.

Attach. Section 22, FOIPOP Act

best wishes,

Lilani Kumaranayake | Executive Director | Policy and Planning |

Economic and Rural Development and Tourism | 1660 Hollis Street |

PO Box 2311 | Halifax | Nova Scotia | B3J 3C8 | Canada |